MEMBER MONDAY: CHARLIE MACPHERSON

posted on 1:32 PM, April 24, 2017

Silver Leaf Series I

Tell us about yourself!Charlie Macpherson – I specialise in blown glass, but in recent years have been using casting processes to expand the work I can make. I work with my wife, and fellow glass artist, Amanda Notarianni. We have recently moved to Dorchester, in Dorset (UK), and set up a new studio to allow us to make larger and more bespoke pieces.

What draws you to the material you work with?Nearly everything I make is cold worked and polished in some way, adding textures or revealing details within the glass. The initial draw to the material was the way the light passes through the material, and the vibrancy of the colors. More and more I am drawn to the movement and fluidity of glass, capturing a given moment during the making processes. The cold working adds to the finished pieces by adding reflections and refractions to the thick polished surfaces.

What themes do you pursue in your work?Simplicity, Repetition, Clarity, Movement.

My glass has always looked to use strong, timeless forms, and incorporate details and cane work within the pieces. These are then highlighted and exposed by polishing, and introducing windows into the glass so the viewer doesn't immediately see the finer details. As a student I read a beautiful story about a tea garden near Osaka, which was designed with a hedge obscuring the view of the distant sea. Only when a guest bent over to wash their hands as part of the ceremony, would they catch a glimpse through a break in the hedges. The beauty remains every time it is glimpsed, and properly observed, rather than becoming part of the background that is seen all the time.

My recent work, still alludes to these themes, but is less rigid and has become more sculptural, based on solid forms, and capturing a moment of movement.

What is your dream project?I would love to do a large installation using components, linked to movement systems that allow the shape of the installation to change as an interactive piece.

If you weren't working in this field, what career would you choose?Music.

What's something about you that most people don't know?If you're looking for a Didgeridoo player....

Why are you a member of GAS?GAS represents a great opportunity to link with other artists and galleries outside of the UK. At this stage in my career, it has become more about sharing and looking outwards.